Hardware interface in an integrated circuit

Abstract

A hardware interface in an integrated circuit is disclosed. The hardware interface comprises data storage coupled to store and provide data; a data shifter coupled to the data storage to at least bit shift the data obtained from the data storage; and a control circuit coupled to the data storage and the data shifter for controlling a transfer of the data from the data storage and the data shifter. The control circuit comprises a state machine for controlling operation of the data storage and the data shifter; and the state machine is programmable responsive to code executable by a processor coupled to an auxiliary processing unit to adapt to the auxiliary processing unit.

1. A hardware interface in an integrated circuit, comprising:
 data storage coupled to store and provide data; 
 a data shifter coupled to the data storage to at least bit shift the data obtained from the data storage; and 
 a control circuit coupled to the data storage and the data shifter for controlling a transfer of the data from the data storage and the data shifter; 
 wherein the control circuit comprises a state machine for controlling operation of the data storage and the data shifter; 
 wherein the state machine is programmable responsive to code executable by a processor coupled to an auxiliary processing unit to adapt to the auxiliary processing unit; and 
 wherein the control circuit is configured to align the data for communication with a memory via the auxiliary processing unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The hardware interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a hardware accelerator for tasks offloaded from the processor. 
     
     
       3. The hardware interface according to  claim 2 , wherein the tasks are associated with data streaming. 
     
     
       4. The hardware interface according to  claim 3 , wherein the tasks are for transferring a subset of bits with respect to a bit width of the auxiliary processing unit. 
     
     
       5. The hardware interface according to  claim 3 , wherein the tasks are for transferring the data via the auxiliary processing unit masked from the processor for using bit-based values in instructions from the processor. 
     
     
       6. The hardware interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the data storage is a plurality of registers, the memory is cache memory coupled to the processor, and the control circuit is instantiated in programmable logic. 
     
     
       7. The hardware interface according to  claim 6 , wherein the integrated circuit is a programmable logic device. 
     
     
       8. A hardware interface in an integrated circuit, comprising:
 a register having a plurality of register banks coupled to store data; 
 a data shifter coupled to receive data from the register and from an auxiliary processing unit; and 
 a control circuit coupled to the register and the data shifter for controlling the transfer of the data from the register and the data shifter, the control circuit having a state machine for controlling operation of the register and the data shifter; 
 wherein the state machine is programmable by a processor coupled to the auxiliary processing unit to enable a transfer of data with the auxiliary processing unit; and 
 wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a hardware accelerator. 
 
     
     
       9. The hardware interface according to  claim 8 , wherein control circuit enables transferring data via the auxiliary processing unit masked from the processor for using bit-based values in instructions from the processor. 
     
     
       10. The hardware interface according to  claim 8 , wherein the data shifter comprises a barrel shifter. 
     
     
       11. The hardware interface according to  claim 10 , wherein the barrel shifter is coupled to receive a first plurality of bits from the auxiliary processing unit and a second plurality of bits from the plurality of register banks. 
     
     
       12. The hardware interface according to  claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is configured to align data for communication with a memory via the auxiliary processing unit. 
     
     
       13. An integrated circuit having a hardware interface, comprising:
 a processor; 
 an auxiliary processing unit coupled to the processor; 
 a hardware interface coupled to the auxiliary processing unit, the hardware interface comprising:
 a register coupled to store data; 
 a data shifter coupled to receive data from the register and from the auxiliary processing unit; and 
 a control circuit coupled to the register and the data shifter for controlling the transfer of the data from the register and the data shifter, the control circuit having a state machine for controlling operation of the register and the data shifter; 
 wherein the state machine is programmable by a processor coupled to the auxiliary processing unit to enable a transfer of data with the auxiliary processing unit; and 
 wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a hardware accelerator for tasks offloaded from the processor. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The hardware interface according to  claim 13 , wherein the data shifter comprises a barrel shifter. 
     
     
       15. The hardware interface according to  claim 14 , wherein the data register comprises a plurality of registers, and the barrel shifter is coupled to receive a plurality of bits from the register and a plurality of bits from the auxiliary processing unit. 
     
     
       16. The hardware interface according to  claim 13 , wherein the control circuit enables transferring data via the auxiliary processing unit masked from the processor for using bit-based values in instructions from the processor. 
     
     
       17. The hardware interface according to  claim 13 , wherein the control circuit is configured to align data for communication with a memory via the auxiliary processing unit.